Intern doctors will be deployed effective tomorrow Thursday, March April 4, the Government has announced.
In a statement released by Head of Public Service Felix Koskei on Tuesday evening, the State has released KSh2.4 billion to enable the deployment and posting of the 2023/24 cohort of medical student interns.
Thus, the Government has asked Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists Dentists Union (KMPDU) to end the strike which has entered the third week now.
There have been ongoing talks between the Government and the doctors over various grievances raised by the medics. And employment of interns was one of the major issues the doctors’ union had raised. Doctors have raised 19 issues that the State should address before returning to work.
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“In that regard, all eligible medical student interns are urged to collect their posting letters from the Ministry of Health’s offices with effect from Thursday, April 4, 2024,” Koskei said.
Koskei said that the decision was arrived at following two mediation talks that took place on March 21 and March 27, 2024 as directed by the Employment and Labour Relations Court.
“With that spirit in mind, the leadership of the KMPDU is urged to comply with its obligations under the Court’s Orders by immediately suspending the ongoing industrial action,” the statement added.
Koskei further said that six of the issues that have been raised fall under the National Government’s mandate, nine under county government’s mandate while the remain four fall under both devolved governments and the State.
He added, “The National Government will as well pay the basic salary arrears arising from the 2017-2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement.”
“The State will also provide scholarships and grants for eligible postgraduate medical officers.”
By our reporter
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